Tionesta Cub Scouts

/0 Comments/in /by

The Forest County History Center recently hosted nine Tionesta Cub Scouts along with five adult leaders. The troop visited the museum as part of their regular meeting on Tuesday, October 1st. Three Board members and volunteer Jim Knauff worked the hour-long visit with the children.
The Scouts were greeted and given the history of the museum. They were then divided up with an adult leader and completed a scavenger hunt encompassing each of the three floors of the museum. After regrouping, they put on costumes of some of our Forest County characters from the past.
Everyone had a great time and we hope the children will return with their parents and be able to spend some more time learning about Forest County History.

Tree Planting In Tionesta

/in /by

Through a grant from the TreeVitalize program, FCHS planted 10 decorative trees at Tionesta Park. After a training session conducted by Marah Fielden of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, along with other volunteers, planted the trees on Saturday, May 11th.

Tionesta Borough dug the holes prior to the day of planting.  SCI Forest’s Community Service Program finished digging the holes to the 3’ wide and 3’ deep size recommended to accommodate the 300-pound root ball on each tree. 

The idea for the grant originated with a dream of board member Burke Beach who wanted to return the elm trees to Elm Street.  The grant required trees to be planted on public property, but there wasn’t enough room on public land available along Elm Street.  Four elm trees were purchased by FCHS, with two planted at Riverside Cemetery and two in the front yard at the History Museum.  After the trees were planted, participants were treated to a picnic lunch. 

For the next two years, the Forest County 4-H group will weed and mulch the trees in June and the Tionesta Volunteer Fire Department will fill the water bladders attached to each tree as needed during the summer months.

Keeping Forest County beautiful takes a group effort.  We thank all of the individuals who are a part of this latest effort to be enjoyed by all for years to come.

Trick or Treat

/0 Comments/in /by

The Forest County Historical Society Board and friends will once again pass out treats on Trick
or Treat night in the Borough of Tionesta. It will be held on October 31st from 5:30PM -7:30PM,
and we will be there dressed as characters from Forest County. Please come in the front porch
and door and exit the side door.

Annual Fall Dinner October 17th

/0 Comments/in /by

We will have our annual fall dinner at St. Anthony’s Church Hall, Tionesta on October 17th with a
social half hour at 5:30 and meal served at 6:30. The menu this year is Roast Turkey and Stuffing,
Mashed Potatoes, mixed Vegetables, Coleslaw, Assorted pies, and coffee, tea, and Ice tea The
cost this year will be $15.00. This is an increase, but it is costing us more and so we must pass
that on to our attendees. We will not be making any money on this dinner. ALL reservations
must be completed on the website or turned into Toni Vrboncic, PO Box 367, Marienville Pa
16239 no Later than October 9th. We will also host a Chinese auction at the dinner. Plans for the
speaker will be updated as soon as they are confirmed.

Cookie Barn Celebrating 20 Years

/0 Comments/in /by
Read more

Wisdom Wednesdays

/0 Comments/in /by

The Forest County Historical Society is ramping-up its efforts to educate the public on topics relating to Forest County history.  In addition to the History Center’s many and varied exhibits, the organization is presenting a series of weekly lectures and demonstrations throughout the summer months called “Wisdom Wednesdays”.

June 5th – This series began with Jeff Scott, fourth generation lumberman, talking about the history of the Wheeler and Dusenbury Mill, Endeavor Lumber Company, and several other local lumber companies.

June 12th – Rodney Daum, recently retired manager of Tionesta Dam, giving a very interesting talk on the history of Tionesta Dam from its construction in 1939-1940 to present day.

June 19th – Holly Komonci, Executive Director of the Lumber Heritage Region of Pennsylvania, presented on the lumbering industry in western Pennsylvania and Forest County’s part in that history.

June 26th – Amy Deitzer Wallace, Army Corp of Engineers employee retired from Tionesta Dam, talked about and demonstrated Pioneer Crafts, such as churning butter and the homemade toys pioneer children played with.

July 3rd – We celebrated the Fourth of July with a program by Amanda Hetrick, Superintendent of Forest Area Schools, and her parents Clarke and Carol Hall performing old fashioned patriotic songs and teaching us about the origins of those songs.

July 10th – Retired Penn State Extension Agent Bill Wallace spoke about the tornadoes of May 31, 1985 and how the local community responded to the tragedy.  The presentation included photos taken by fellow former Extension Agent Russell Smith and stories shared by residents in the audience of their memories of that memorable day.

July 17th – Rodney Daum returned with Cindy McCoy in costume to talk about Forest County’s 83rd Pennsylvania volunteer infantry regiment of the Union Army during the Civil War.  This regiment participated in every major battle in the East, including Seven Days Battles, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Petersburg and Appomattox Court House.

July 24th – Forest County Commissioner Basil Huffman shared his knowledge of the Forest County Courthouse, including the renovations to the building and hand painted murals found under paneling during the 2007 renovation of the courtroom.

July 31st – Summer Intern and local resident Aimee Haslet presented a program about the Haslet Funeral Home of Tionesta (started by her great grandfather) and the history of funeral homes in general.

August 7th – Julia McCray gave a presentation on the Kelly Mansion (now Kellygreen Bed & Breakfast) in Tionesta, including photos of this beautiful home and a history of the house and its owners.

Upcoming presentation topics include Nitroglycerin and Shooting Wells by Jeff Pierson of Warren, PA on August 14th, Leonard Nicklas with a topic to be determined on August 21st, and a history of West Forest Schools by Denny O’Toole on August 28th.

Each event begins at 7:00 pm with a 30-minute presentation, followed by a Q&A period until 8:00 pm.  The events are open to the public for a small donation at the door and free to FCHS members.

See the Forest County Historical Society Facebook page for announcements of upcoming programs and other events at the History Center.

Did you attend these events? Would you like to see us continue the series and have ideas for future topics? Contact us at fchs@zoominternet.net.